Cai Qidong took a careful look, determined this person's position, background, and who was backing them up.

Then he flipped through a stack of files on the side, pulling out a particular document.

"This person should be related to whoever's behind this so-called senator, right?"

"Yes, not super clear on the details, but definitely someone important."

The document recorded a person who, nominally, came to Divine Land to make purchases.

But after this round of indiscriminate heavy-handed crackdowns, it turned out this guy had all sorts of identities.

On the one hand, he did have some legit collaborations and dealings with local businesses, but on the sly, he was smuggling out specialty Divine Land goods—stuff professionals might need.

At the same time, this guy would also sneak various things into Divine Land that couldn't clear customs, using all sorts of methods.

On another front, this time the Scorching Sun Department hit hard, dropped serious resources, and dug up the fact that this guy was actually a spy.

It wasn't through interrogation that they found out—the guy is tough as nails, and after all this grilling, he's only admitted to smuggling certain materials professionals might need.

The truth only came out because they plowed so many resources into it. When interrogating people who'd been in contact with him, one guy, after watching the news and seeing the Foreign Ministry step up and issue warnings, basically understood that it meant "I can take revenge whenever I want."

This guy also knew a bit about the Scorching Sun Department. Couldn't handle the pressure, so he gave up the spy.

As the saying goes: better you than me. Chance to merit, grab it fast.

With his own crimes plus this meritorious act, he'll probably get off with three years sewing buttons—basically nothing, so it's pointless to fight it.

Cai Qidong tapped this file.

"This guy brought hallucinogens into Divine Land to sell, right?

Let them prioritize this guy when they handle the case—wrap it up as quickly as possible.

From locking down evidence to paperwork—do your best to cooperate.

Get it done fast—get him put away first."

"What if something else comes up?"

"Then keep adding charges. If it's enough to put him down, finish him. If not, just let him sew buttons in there till he croaks."

The internal staffer was a bit surprised—their minister was so blunt.

Cai Qidong grinned wide, flashing a mouthful of big white teeth.

"What're you gawking at? I told you it's about revenge—the point is people need to see that's exactly what this is: naked payback. Dig deep, sentence him strictly per our guidelines. He's brought in several things we classify as narcotics. As long as you get the quantity right, send him on his way."

This is the simplest route and also the most righteous—nobody can say it's wrong.

The nervous internal staffer left with the papers, glancing at Cai Qidong's toothy grin, always feeling like their minister was about to eat someone, and so shamelessly at that.

In truth, Cai Qidong wasn't all that keen on wasting energy on these people they'd just grabbed. He knew, even if they'd slipped up, it probably wasn't anything too major.

Rooting out a guy running smuggling on the side—and moonlighting as a spy—was already a surprise.

As for the rest, to put it bluntly, with all these Heavenly Eyes lining the streets, these people were already marked. After they got to Nanwu County, unless they hid out in the boonies, every move they made these past three months—where they went, who they saw—the Scorching Sun Department probably knows better than they do.

Still, same old story—if there's no need, the Scorching Sun Department absolutely doesn't have the energy for this stuff, let alone the bandwidth to deport folks on grounds of "hooking up with a girl and giving her a thousand or two as compensation after."

But now, there is a need. Dealing with these people isn't even the real purpose.

Cai Qidong opened up a map, eyeing the West River water system that spanned most of Nanwu County, mulling over the opportunity this time had presented.

He really didn't want to see the West River Dragon God and the Mountain Lord go at it. Just imagining it gave him a headache—the damage would probably be worse than when Gauss descended back then.

That Dragon God is wild, sure, but at least this time has been pretty restrained, only sent a Turtle Demon here to curse us out.

So Cai Qidong figured, he could reciprocate—show a bit of restraint as well.

He'd already set up appointments with Tuoba Martial God.

Also made arrangements with the disciple inside Dragon Tiger Mountain who'd received the Calamity Protector Goddess Talisman.

Plan was, in a few days, to go control the West River Dragon God first. If that didn't work, and the other side fought back hard, tried to kick up a major incident—

Like flooding the downtown or whatever—then he'd just take the Dragon God down.

He'd checked with Tuoba Martial God. The other guy said he was training hard every day, progress steady, way stronger than before.

As long as that water-drowning hazard got handled, even if fighting underwater cut his power in half, force-killing a Dragon God—one with no temple, and under a big-time weakness debuff—shouldn't be a problem.

But for now, Cai Qidong figured this was a good window to try contacting them, see if maybe they could sort things out the nice way. If things could be worked out peacefully, all the better.

He honestly didn't want things with the West River Dragon God to escalate to the point where he'd have to take him out for good.

Especially since he now knew the Dragon God really was a dragon—he just wasn't keen to do it anymore.

Slaying a dragon had major fallout. Not that it's impossible, but if he can avoid it, he'd rather not go there.

Because unlike in Europa, their "dragons" aren't the same thing as the ones in Divine Land. It's just that when they get translated, they're both called dragons.

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